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Apple delivered some Video iPods with a worm inside

First McDonald's, now Apple: the manufacturer has delivered some iPods with a Windows worm pre-installed. The firm is still investigating just how the W32/RJump (RavMonE.exe) virus made its way onto the video version of the iPod. Reports in the American media claim that a third-party manufacturer that produces the devices for Apple is clearly to blame. No names were disclosed, but the original source of the infection is reportedly an infected Windows PC used for the production of iPods from 12th September. Less than one percent of the devices produced since that date are affected. Apple claims to have received less than 25 notifications from affected customers to this point. The problem has subsequently been eliminated and no more infected iPods are being delivered, the company promises.

In an analysis of the incident, Apple apportions part of the blame to Microsoft: it is obligated to make Windows more virus-resistant. Only after leveling that claim does the firm acknowledge its own culpability: it is all the more upset because no one stopped the infection. Nevertheless, current antivirus software can recognise and remove the malware. Apple recommends that users without virus protection install a free-of-charge virus scanner or a trial version of a commercial one. Among the examples mentioned by Apple is Microsoft's Live OneCare. Mac users are not affected since the worm only runs on Windows.